Nadia L. Hohn favourite book of 2017 was S.K. Ali's YA novel Saints and Misfits

Happy holidays! CBC Books asked authors to share their favourite books of 2017. We will be publishing these recommendations throughout December. 

Nadia L. Hohn chose Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali.

"I am loving Saints and Misfits because it is so timely. I'm a teacher and I began to read the book to my Grade 8 language class. I saw their discomfort in the second chapter. I realized that sexual assault is difficult to discuss and especially given the climate we are in with the recent allegations and 'silence breakers' coming forward in the media, it sensitizes readers to the personal horrors of assault. 

"I also love that it is a lesson on Islam and its culture. It shows the followers of this religion as diverse and non-monolithic. We need more books like this. Many of my teen girls identified with her character."

Nadia L. Hohn is a writer, musician and educator. She is the author of book Malaika's Winter Carnival and the manuscript of Malaika's Costume, her first picture book, won the Helen Isobel Sissons Canadian Children's Story Award in 2016.